Sunday, 25 October 2015

After
a smash and grab last month at Night of Champions, Kevin Owens should retain
here, but I fear that this feud must continue. If you haven’t already, check
out Ryback on Table for 3 with Daniel Bryan and Dolph Ziggler on the Network,
it might change your views on him. Might. But there’s a ceiling on how good a
match between these two can be in reality.

As
great as The New Day are, it’s time for a title change here. The tug of war of
the title can go on into Survivor Series but a tenth tag team title for The
Dudley Boyz is the way to go here. If you don’t put the title on them here, you
have to wonder where you go with them. Xavier Woods has been so great - if
you’re at all interested, check out his color commentary work on Superstars,
he’s clearly enjoying himself so much right now.

I
see this as a gruelling win for Charlotte, the blow off to segue into the next
couple of contenders. Paige and Sasha Banks are lining up for their shot. I
assume we see Paige come out at the end to show her intent. Let’s hope it’s
half decent.

Short
of this being a ‘surprise’, whether that be an NXT graduate or a return, I
would have to assume that this match is against Dean Ambrose after his match
was ruined by Randy Orton’s shoulder injury. With Cena taking time off, the
title ought to be vacated and they’re short of babyfaces. Ambrose with a title
might be a good move. Mind you, has anyone seen Daniel Bryan of later…?

Prediction: Dean Ambrose

Hell in a Cell: Roman Reigns vs. Bray
Wyatt

The
day that they get Bray Wyatt up against someone where it doesn’t just end up
being a weird rivalry, will be a good day. Having said that, in a cell this
could be a good match and a win for Reigns where he comes out looking strong
could do his path towards WrestleMania some good. We hope for no interference,
but the cell doesn’t even guarantee that anymore. I’m ready to see the back of
this feud.

This
would provide the suitable out for Kane to leave The Authority. That story has
well and truly run its course. Seth doesn’t need to drop the title yet and Kane
certainly isn’t the man to take it. I just wonder if they can make this a good match
- Kane is rarely very good in matches, let alone semi-main event spots. Seth is
a remarkable performer but is losing and has been facing old guys who can just
about still go in the last two months on ppv. We need to see him up against
quality opposition and, no, that’s not Sheamus. How they solve that little
issue is anyone’s guess.

Prediction: Seth Rollins

Hell in a Cell: Brock Lesnar vs. The
Undertaker

So
a clean finish here to end this feud is all we’re after. Well, that and a good
match after such a meager and mediocre build this month. Lesnar’s the best
things they’ve got and Undertaker can still ride off into the sunset at
WrestleMania in Texas. It would be a courageous man to call this match any
other way and I’m not that man but I do think that this will a really good
match. I hope we get some of the old Undertaker. In theory, this could be his
penultimate WWE match, so I think he throws everything at it without being too
wild or dangerous. The cell at least means that they can avoid to many
suplexes, bumps and F-5s for Undertaker in his condition.

Sunday, 27 September 2015

The
Big Takeaway: Jack Swagger
beat Adam Rose and his ever-terrible new gimmick while R-Truth dismissed Heath
Slater in a quick, entertaining bout. Xavier Woods is still the best thing
about this show.

Saturday, 19 September 2015

The match will probably be good, but I don’t see it being much better than just that – good. Arguably, there is no-one better placed than Seth Rollins to make Sting, at 56, look like he still belongs in a WWE ring, but I think the finish will distract from the quality of the wrestling. Does Sting need the title to be a WWE Hall of Famer? In their minds, possibly. But I see Rollins winning – not without hope for Sting along the way. Some outside interference that maybe the likes of Money in Bank holder, Sheamus, could provide, will no doubt colour the finish. This can then lead to them settling the score without disruption inside Hell in a Cell next month at The Staples Centre.

Prediction: Seth Rollins

U.S. Champion Seth Rollins vs. John Cena

This could be the best match on the card. There are so many ways that they could book this but logic would suggest that Cena regains his lost title after being screwed out of it by John Stewart last month. After all the work that Cena did to re-elevate this title is now lost, to some extent, by having Seth hold it whilst also holding the WWE title. With a resilient veteran performance, Cena will dodge the attempted distraction from The Authority and leave them disappointed in their boy.

Prediction: John Cena

Intercontinental Champion Ryback vs. Kevin Owens

Owens doesn’t need to be losing to Ryback and Ryback feels out of his depth here. Ryback has had a resurgence of late and he’s about as over as he’s ever going to get now. The prospect of Owens as IC champion is a fun one, to say the least. They can, of course, settle this in a Cell next month if they don’t do a rematch on Raw.

Prediction: Kevin Owens

Divas Champion Nikki Bella vs. Charlotte

Now that the record has been broken, they can do what they like here. Either Nikki retains because Paige interferes, or Charlotte wins to proclaim a new era for the Divas division. Revolution, or not, I agree with Bryan: Nikki Bella is pretty much completely unlikeable.

Prediction: Charlotte

WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day vs. Dudley Boyz

It has been 10 years since The Duley Boyz were in a tag team bout in WWE, but what a wonderful thing The New Day has become. And who knew? I can’t see them breaking their run just yet, though Woods’ trombone may be about to broken through a table. I think The New Day steals one here, but the Dudleys will put them all through tables after the match.

Prediction: The New Day

Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns & Mystery Partner vs. The Wyatt Family

Braun Strowman gives the Wyatts the monster edge, even if he’s green and has the wrong look. I can see Ambrose being pinned by Strowman with some lights-go-out, hokey, Wyatt-confusion thrown in for good measure. My bet is that the Mystery partner is Randy Orton after all, but I’d be delighted if it’s Daniel Bryan or Finn Balor. Balor and Bray is a feud just itching to happen. If Bryan is ready and they want to use him, I’d bet that this is exactly the level that they see him being at.

Prediction: The Wyatts

Rusev vs. Dolph Ziggler

Both men deserve better than this. The focus on the women must come into play but I have no idea where they are going with all that. Rusev and Ziggler could have a good match if the focus is on them, however. I hope they blow this feud off on Sunday, but I have a bad feeling that they won’t. Ziggler is surely due a win?

Saturday, 12 September 2015

The
Big Takeaway: Stardust looked
good against a Jack Swagger who is in lower-mid-card hell. Neville beat Bo
Dallas with his move after being beaten up for 3 minutes. Xavier Woods is still
the best colour commentator in the company.

Saturday, 5 September 2015

The
Big Takeaway: R-Truth
dispensed with Adam Rose yet again while the comic book caper from SummerSlam
continued when Neville & The Lucha Dragons beat Stardust & The
Ascension. Xavier Woods was a welcome addition on commentary.

Sunday, 23 August 2015

I see this one being 8 minutes and pretty much a Dolph
squash. Clearly we’ll have a showdown between the women that will distract from
the wrestling. I think they might just blow this off tonight. I like Rusev, but
like many since WrestleMania, he’s turned into a mid-card nobody. They need to
seal this up and move on to a title programme.

Prediction:
Rusev

Stephen
"Arrow" Amell & Neville vs. King Barrett & Stardust

Clearly Amell coming in for a match, screwing up his jaw
and teeth in training and then losing is not going to be the way to go with
this. The focus will be on how much there is of Amell in the ring and how much
of this is just smoke and mirrors. Otherwise, it will be interesting to see where
this is placed on the card because as a match this doesn’t promise anything at
all, but as a spectacle for comic book fans it will please, I’m sure.

My Sister-in-law is watching this match and has little
to zero interest in the company or in pro wrestling so I guess they’re doing
something right here in get new eyes on the product.

Prediction:
Amell & Neville

Kevin Owens vs.
Cesaro

Cesaro needs to be in programmes like this going
forward. He is superb at the moment and is getting recognition from the
announce team and, of course, the fans. Owens needs a win after last night if
he is to keep any kind of momentum after his meteoric few months on the main
roster.

Will we see Cesaro use the giant swing on Owens?

Prediction:
Owens

WWE Tag Team
Champions Prime Time Players vs. The New Day vs. Los Matadores vs. Lucha
Dragons fatal four way

I don’t see a title change here but the bookies are
calling for New Day to take it. They are hot right now and it was a mistake to
take it off them but they don’t really need the titles. I’d guess, though, that
this will be excellent. I think they should open with this. The post Mania Raw
saw The Lucha Dragons on the opening bout in front of a hugely hot and
expectant crowd and they really delivered. I think with the excellent Los
Matadores, too, you have an ideal card opener. I think there’s title changes
elsewhere on this card.

Prediction: PTP

Dean Ambrose
& Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt & Luke Harper

I say keep the Wyatts strong regardless of whether or
not Ambrose or Reigns turns. Ambrose can get pinned without anyone caring but
it will be more about where they go from here with this. If Reigns is there guy
you have to assume that either you keep these two strong and run for a few
months with this. If not, you can have some drama here. I’m not sure if this is
the night to do it when put alongside so much other material.

Does the Rock come out here with Reigns?

Prediction:
Wyatts

WWE Intercontinental
Champion Ryback vs. The Miz vs. Big Show

Miz got so brutally killed on Raw this week that I
wonder if they’re putting the belt on him. The hot potato title changes seem to
be back on course now that Bryan has vacated the title and that Cena is back in
the main title picture. A few months ago I said that they should keep both the
US and IC titles on Cena and Bryan and then do a unification match at Mania
next year. Perhaps you could do that with Ryback but that is nowhere the match
that it would have been if it had been Bryan.

The big men to cancel each other out and Miz to take the
glory?

Prediction: Miz

Randy Orton vs.
Sheamus

They could do the same thing that they did at Mania
here: Orton beats Sheamus and Sheamus can lose because he cashes in later in
the night. Sheamus can lose because he has the briefcase. Either way, Orton is
a pleasure to watch and I’d rather see him go over at one of the biggest shows
of the year.

Rollins probably ought to keep the title. Cena doesn’t
need both. Rollins doesn’t need both. Why have they booked themselves into this
corner? The way out is if Sheamus cashes in. If not, they have Cena getting
screwed by Kane/HHH and Rollins gets both and this authority storyline, which
is pretty damn dull, carries on.

Cena rarely loses. Flair’s record is up for equaling and
apparently he is in NYC. Should be a great match.

Prediction:
Cena

Brock Lesnar vs. Undertaker

Well the only thing that I can
think here is that they have Sting here to build up his match with Undertaker
for Texas next year. It can’t stink as much as their WrestleMania match did so
I’m excited to see how they go. Undertaker just looks so old now that it has
all lost its magic a little. Brock is unreal right now and frankly shouldn’t be
working with The Undertaker at this stage. There’s a queue of people I’d want
to see Lesnar work with and with his limited schedule this seems like spectacle
over substance.

Saturday, 6 June 2015

The
Big Takeaway: Jimmy Uso
provided colour commentary this week for both matches. The Lucha Dragons went
over 10 minutes against the Ascension – much longer than they normally give
matches on this show. Harper and Rowan squashed Los Matadores.